Daily Tombstone epitaph., 1887-02-12
CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER.

THE Knights of "Labor" or the loafers who combine to obstruct the legitimate traffic of the country have got little or ganiza,ion in this city, and this fragment are making desperate efforts to stat an "organ." Abram Jonas Ritter, the fellow who, by fraud, was elected Treasurer of Cochise county, is one of the leading spirits of the movement. He, with the remnants of the defunct anti. Chinese gang, who, by the grace of the decent people of Tombstone, have been buried out of sight, is suffering for an "organ," and the gang who made such tremendous efforts to paralyze the business interests of Tombstone some time since, are the tools which Bagg, Ritter and Thomas are rushing forward. That Tombstone needs a gang of peace disturbers, commonly called Knights of Labor, is a question that does not have to be discussed. They have been instrumental in clogging the wheels of progress in every city in the Union where their presence has been tol- erated, and now in this little community, where business is almost at stand-still, this gang of cormorants desire to fasten their hateful fangs. It looks strange that men like these would foster and foment trouble and discord in a community which has furnished their bread and but. ter for the past six years, but their innate craving after little cheap notoriety is what leads them to be parties to such transactions. The influence of this out fit upon the business interests of this community is only equaled by their abl- ty to perpetrate wrong. If the oppor- tunity presented itself, and they could be equal to the occasion, they would be instrumental in blocking the industrial wheels of our business interests. Ritter and his chums as yet have been unable to make the necessary "raise" whereby to float their blackmailing organ. In or. der to get sympathy from the public they have circulated false and lying reports, one of the many is that the EPITAPH is run in the interest of the land troubles in this city, and that it is controlled by Judge Berry for this purpose. The plain unvarnished truth of the matter is that the EPITAPH has always been on the side of justice and law, and is kept up by the business men of this community. The EPITAPH has been outspoken on the side of law and order at all times, and under its present management will so continue. Several blackmailing sheets have been thrown to the breeze since the existence of this paper and they have always gone to the wall, and notwithstanding the many falsehoods indulged in by this fel- low Ritter, we continue te publish one of the best and most outspohen newspapers ig this Territory. We are opposed to Ciques and Thugs and such as call them selves Knights of Labor, who endeavor ,o use that organization to further their own ends and selfish desires. We snap our fingers at them in contempt and will assist in making them odious to this com. munity. A few loafers organize for the purpose of dictating to the workingman how and who he shall work for, especial ly, mark you, in little place like Tomb. stone, where there are not more than one hundred men at work in all. But we are firmly of the opinion that this secret or ganization are in large degree responsi- ble for so few men being al work. These are our sentiments, Messrs. Thugs. Now make the most of it.